With the game well poised after an even opening, Hughes muscled Neal Horgan out of the way before carefully slotting the ball past a stranded Mark McNulty from just inside the area to give Monaghan a decisive lead which they held onto resolutely.

Cork had long spells of possession during an entertaining contest, but they failed to penetrate the Monaghan defence.

Mick Cooke's team effectively closed the shutters in the second half to deny the home side any chance of a comeback.

Shane Barrett had a couple of decent opportunities in the second half to restore parity but Brian Gartland and excellent goalkeeper Gabriel Sava were both on hand to clear the danger.

George O'Callaghan also had an opportunity when he floated a delicate free kick narrowly over the bar from 20 yards out.

Graham Cummins, who had a quiet night by his usual standards, finally broke through on 81 minutes but to sum up a typical night for the home team, his effort was narrowly wide of Sava's post.